Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Iloilo Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Iloilo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $684 in Iloilo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,003 per month in Makati vs $1,037 in Iloilo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,780 per month in Makati vs $1,390 in Iloilo, rent included.

Makati costs about 79% more than Iloilo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Iloilo are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Iloilo 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$2.71 ₱166

143.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$21.66 ₱1,326

106.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$3.56 ₱218

33.99%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.00 ₱122

47.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.53 ₱32.23

116.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.29 ₱18.04

79.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$0.95 ₱57.9

149.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$1.73 ₱106

108.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.81 ₱111

18.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.27 ₱77.8

13.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$0.88 ₱54.0

20.45%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$2.21 ₱136

6.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$5.76 ₱353

36.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$4.19 ₱256

6.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$7.09 ₱434

10.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$3.78 ₱231

17.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.15 ₱70.7

71.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$3.28 ₱201

-21.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.56 ₱95.5

39.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$2.59 ₱159

31.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.99 ₱183

-6.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$1.62 ₱99.2

-32.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.86 ₱52.8

9.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$3.12 ₱191

-5.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$5.79 ₱354

36.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$1.28 ₱78.5

-3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$1.38 ₱84.6

63.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.25 ₱15.38

120.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

$5.15 ₱315

-29.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.68 ₱41.77

13.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.31 ₱19.17

-64.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.62 ₱160

38.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.09 ₱66.9

5.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$23.9K ₱1.5M

39.72%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

13.48%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$173 ₱10.6K

$65.9 ₱4,033

163.00%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.42 ₱1,678

$31.21 ₱1,910

-12.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$30.23 ₱1,850

20.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$26.99 ₱1,652

103.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$5.22 ₱320

54.21%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$323 ₱19.8K

$34.74 ₱2,127

830.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$4,276 ₱261.8K

80.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$45.06 ₱2,758

32.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$22.58 ₱1,382

59.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$61.8 ₱3,784

38.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$26.07 ₱1,596

368.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$237 ₱14.5K

178.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$177 ₱10.8K

120.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$357 ₱21.8K

533.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$280 ₱17.1K

268.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$3,731 ₱228.4K

62.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$1,047 ₱64.1K

266.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$203 ₱12.4K

200.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-16.63%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Makati: July 28, 2026

Last update for Iloilo: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $237 in Iloilo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 201% higher in Makati, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Makati versus $22.00 in Iloilo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $201 – making Iloilo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Makati vs Iloilo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Makati is pricier by about 79%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,840 per month in Makati and $1,026 in Iloilo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iloilo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Makati and $22.00 in Iloilo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,226 in Makati and $684 in Iloilo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iloilo, where all-in costs run around $684, than in Makati at $1,226. In Iloilo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Iloilo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Iloilo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Makati makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.